Lecture 19

Question 1

What is the rate determining step? Is it a slow or fast step?

Answer 1

An elementary step that has a rate that matches the experimental rate law.
It is a slow step so the rest of the reaction can only proceed as fast as that step.

Question 2

What is the Log Jam Principle?

Answer 2

Somewhere downstream, there is a slow process. fast steps preceding slow steps go to equilibrium.

Question 3

What steps go to equilibrium according to the Log Jam Principle?

Answer 3

The fast steps before the slow steps go to equilibrium.

Question 4

What molecules can’t the experimental rate law include?

Answer 4

intermediate molecules

Question 5

Are intermediate molecules catalysts

Answer 5

No, they are not. Intermediate molecules act as reactants/products while catalysts are NOT reactants/products. Furthermore, intermediates can be consumed during the course of the reaction unlike catalysts.

Question 6

At equilibrium, what is equal?
a) [R] and [P]
b) k1 and k2 (k for forward and reverse reactions)
c) forward and reverse reaction rate

Answer 6

c) forward and reverse reaction rate